All local rules for N.D. Ill., integrated with this judge's published requirements.
Neither a motion nor brief in support of or in opposition to any motion nor objections to a report and recommendation or order of a magistrate judge or special master, shall exceed 15 pages without prior approval of the court. Local Rule 7.1 ↗
Neither a motion nor brief in support of or in opposition to any motion nor objections to a report and recommendation or order of a magistrate judge or special master, shall exceed 15 pages without prior approval of the court. Local Rule 7.1 ↗
Neither a motion nor brief in support of or in opposition to any motion nor objections to a report and recommendation or order of a magistrate judge or special master, shall exceed 15 pages without prior approval of the court. Local Rule 7.1 ↗
(b) A judge may require a motion or an objection to a magistrate judge’s order to be accompanied by a notice of presentment specifying the date and time on which, and judge before whom, the motion or objection is to be presented. The date of presentment shall be not more than 14 days following the date on which the motion or objection is delivered to the court pursuant to LR 78.1. Local Rule 5.3(b) ↗
Except where a judge fixes a different time in accordance with this rule, the original of any motion shall be filed by 4:30 p.m. of the second business day preceding the date of presentment. A judge may fix a time for delivery longer than that provided by this rule, or elect to hear motions less frequently than daily, or both. Local Rule 78.1 ↗
The court may set a briefing schedule. Oral argument may be allowed in the court’s discretion. Local Rule 78.3 ↗
Any judge wishing to refer a matter in a civil case pending on that judge’s calendar to a magistrate judge may do so following procedures approved by the Executive Committee. Local Rule 72.1 ↗
Discovery Motions The Court will not hear or consider any discovery motion or non-dispositive dispute unless the movant has complied with the "meet and confer" requirement of Local Rule 37.2 . The motion must state with specificity when and how the movant complied with Local Rule 37.2. Parties are reminded that compliance with Local Rule 37.2 requires a good faith effort to resolve discovery disputes and communication that takes place face to face or by telephone. The exchange of correspondence will not normally be sufficient to comply with Local Rule 37.2. All parties should be prepared to argue any discovery motion on the date that it is presented. The Court will often rule on discovery motions after hearing argument at the motion call and without briefing. If after hearing argument, the Court believes that the motion requires briefing, the Court normally will set an expedited briefing schedule so that the matter can be resolved promptly. Moving parties are reminded to notify the Court immediately if they are withdrawing any previously filed discovery motions.
Motion Practice Electronic Filing The Court strongly encourages counsel to convert any word-processed document into a .pdf document by printing or publishing to .pdf, rather than manually scanning a paper copy into .pdf. The former method of conversion generates searchable optical character recognition (OCR) text; the latter does not. Extensions of Time A party seeking an extension of time must contact all other parties in the case to determine whether they object to the extension. Any motion for extension of time should indicate whether it is the first or subsequent extension request, shall include the reasons for the request, any previous relief granted and whether any other party objects to the extension. Schedule At this time motions should not be noticed for hearing. Unopposed Motions Joint, uncontested, and agreed motions must be so identified in the title and body of the motion. Unless the Court has told a party it need not appear, counsel for all parties to which the motion is directed are expected to be present whether or not the motion is opposed. If an appearance is not required, counsel for the movant is directed to notify the respondent(s) accordingly. Source ↗
Courtesy Copies Courtesy copies are required for: (1) all filings that total 25 pages or more (for purposes of this rule, summary judgment motions, briefs, fact statements, and exhibits should be considered together a single "filing"); (2) proposed pretrial orders, motions in limine, and proposed jury instructions, regardless of length; (3) all filings that include attachments or exhibits that are not readable in their electronic format. Unless Judge Pacold orders otherwise, courtesy copies are not required for any filings that do not meet this description, including pleadings. When a courtesy copy is required, it should be delivered to the Courtroom Deputy in Room 2332A, within 24 hours of the filing. Courtesy copies may be printed single-sided or double-sided. Source ↗
Initial Status Conference and Report Template The Court will promptly schedule an initial status hearing for newly-filed cases. In most cases, the initial status hearing will be conducted within approximately 60 days of the filing of the complaint. NON-PATENT CASES Per Local Rule 26.1 , the initial status hearing shall serve as the scheduling conference referred to in Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f). The parties must confer at least 21 days in advance of the initial hearing/scheduling conference, as required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f), but need not present a written report outlining the discovery plan at the initial hearing. At least 7 days prior to the initial status hearing, the parties must file a joint Initial Status Report, in the format and including the information required by the template at the link below. Initial Status Report PATENT CASES In patent cases, the parties must confer at least 21 days in advance of the initial status hearing, as required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f). At least 7 days prior to the initial status hearing, the parties must file a joint report, in the format and including the information required by the template at the link below. LPR Appendix A Magistrate Judge Consent and Form Every case has an assigned Magistrate Judge, and in civil cases the parties may consent to have the assigned Magistrate Judge try the case. In many cases, consent to refer the entire case to the Magistrate Judge may offer significant efficiencies and greater certainty in scheduling the trial. All counsel in civil cases should inform their clients of this option and discuss it with opposing counsel. Magistrate Judge Consent Form Motion Practice Electronic Filing The Court strongly encourages counsel to convert any word-processed document into a .pdf document by printing or publishing to .pdf, rather than manually scanning a paper copy into .pdf. The former method of conversion generates searchable optical character recognition (OCR) text; the latter does not. Extensions of Time A party seeking an extension of time must all other parties in the case to determine whether they object to the extension. Any motion for extension of time should indicate whether it is the first or subsequent extension request, shall include the reasons for the request, any previous relief granted and whether any other party objects to the extension. Schedule At this time motions should not be noticed for hearing. Unopposed Motions Joint, uncontested, and agreed motions must be so identified in the title and body of the motion. Unless the Court has told a party it need not appear, counsel for all parties to which the motion is directed are expected to be present whether or not the motion is opposed. If an appearance is not required, counsel for the movant is directed to notify the respondent(s) accordingly. Patent Cases Unless Judge Pacold orders otherwise, parties should follow the Local Patent Rules for the Northern District of Illinois in all patent cases. Source ↗
Motion Practice Electronic Filing The Court strongly encourages counsel to convert any word-processed document into a .pdf document by printing or publishing to .pdf, rather than manually scanning a paper copy into .pdf. The former method of conversion generates searchable optical character recognition (OCR) text; the latter does not. Extensions of Time A party seeking an extension of time must contact all other parties in the case to determine whether they object to the extension. Any motion for extension of time should indicate whether it is the first or subsequent extension request, shall include the reasons for the request, any previous relief granted and whether any other party objects to the extension. Schedule At this time motions should not be noticed for hearing. Unopposed Motions Joint, uncontested, and agreed motions must be so identified in the title and body of the motion. Unless the Court has told a party it need not appear, counsel for all parties to which the motion is directed are expected to be present whether or not the motion is opposed. If an appearance is not required, counsel for the movant is directed to notify the respondent(s) accordingly. Source ↗
Motion Practice Electronic Filing The Court strongly encourages counsel to convert any word-processed document into a .pdf document by printing or publishing to .pdf, rather than manually scanning a paper copy into .pdf. The former method of conversion generates searchable optical character recognition (OCR) text; the latter does not. Extensions of Time A party seeking an extension of time must contact all other parties in the case to determine whether they object to the extension. Any motion for extension of time should indicate whether it is the first or subsequent extension request, shall include the reasons for the request, any previous relief granted and whether any other party objects to the extension. Schedule At this time motions should not be noticed for hearing. Unopposed Motions Joint, uncontested, and agreed motions must be so identified in the title and body of the motion. Unless the Court has told a party it need not appear, counsel for all parties to which the motion is directed are expected to be present whether or not the motion is opposed. If an appearance is not required, counsel for the movant is directed to notify the respondent(s) accordingly. Source ↗
Motion Practice Electronic Filing The Court strongly encourages counsel to convert any word-processed document into a .pdf document by printing or publishing to .pdf, rather than manually scanning a paper copy into .pdf. The former method of conversion generates searchable optical character recognition (OCR) text; the latter does not. Extensions of Time A party seeking an extension of time must contact all other parties in the case to determine whether they object to the extension. Any motion for extension of time should indicate whether it is the first or subsequent extension request, shall include the reasons for the request, any previous relief granted and whether any other party objects to the extension. Schedule At this time motions should not be noticed for hearing. Unopposed Motions Joint, uncontested, and agreed motions must be so identified in the title and body of the motion. Unless the Court has told a party it need not appear, counsel for all parties to which the motion is directed are expected to be present whether or not the motion is opposed. If an appearance is not required, counsel for the movant is directed to notify the respondent(s) accordingly. Source ↗